Winding device



July 8, 1941. 0, WILSON WINDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 27.1939 INVENTOR B4) 0. 144450 AOEY.

Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDING DEVICE Ray 0.Wilson, Los Angeies, Cali! assignor to Ralph D. Collins ApplicationOctober 27, 1939, Serial No. 301.585

' 15 Claims.

My invention relates to a winding apparatus and has particular referenceto an apparatus for rewinding a helically coiled member to reverse thepitch thereof.

In the manufacture of rubber insulated electrical conductors, such asextension cords and the like, it has been proposed to cure or vuicanizethe rubber with the cord wound into an elongated helically coiled shapeso that after curing and vulcanizing. the cord would tend to remain inthis coiled shape. It has been suggested that cords formed in thisiashion would have the advantage of always being automaticallyextensible and retractable so as to just reach between the devices towhich the opposite e ds of the cord are attached. It is contended thatthe use of a cord of this type on an electric iron. for example, wouldprovide for the cord extending between the electrical outlet and theiron without appreciable slack, thus permitting the iron to be moved toand fro while the cord extends and retracts to continuously take up theslack.

It has also been suggested that it would be very diillcult to so form ahelix of rubber or similar resilient material as to cause the helix toreturn after extension to a form in which adiacent loops of the helixare in close contact with each other, and it has been proposed toreverse the pitch of the helix after the forming thereof to increase theavailable restoring force and thus cause the adjacent loops of thereversed helix to lie in the desired close contact with each other.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide an apparatus forreversing the pitch of a pre-formed helically coiled resilient member.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an apparatus for makingan extension device by reversing the pitch of a pre-formed hellcallycoiled resilient member.

It is an additional object of my invention to provide an apparatus forre-winding a helically coiled resilient member in a reversed directionto reverse the pitch of the helix.

It is a further object of mylnvention to provide an apparatus of thecharacter set forth in the preceding paragraphs in which means isprovided for cutting the resilient member at predetermined spaced pointsalong its length to provide a plurality of relatively short rewoundhelices from a single relatively long pre-formed helix.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an apparatus of thecharacter set forth in the preceding paragraph in which the cuttingoperation is performed without perceptibly interrupting the re-windingoperation.

It is an additional object of my invention to provide an apparatus ofthe character set forth in the preceding paragraph in which means isprovided for controlling the linear length of member included in each ofthe rewound helices.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide an apparatus ofthe character set forth in the preceding paragraphs in which a means isprovided for preventing Jamming oi the member in the re-windingapparatus.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an apparatus of thecharacter set forth in the preceding paragraphs which includes means forfeeding the resilient member about a stationary mandrel, a means forguiding the movement of the member to form a helix of reversed pitch,and a means for moving the rewound helix axially along the stationarymandrel.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from astudy of the following specifications, read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of the re-windingapparatus of my invention and showing the manner in which the preformedhelix is supported and the manner. in which the rewound helix isdischarged from the machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus shown inFig. l and illustrating details of construction, particularly as regardsthe manner in which the cut-oil tool is actuated;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view with parts shown in section, this viewbeing taken substantially along the line III-III of Fig. 2 to illustratethe relative disposition of parts and the manner in which the resilientmember is fed onto the forming mandrel; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline IVIV of Fig. 3 to illustrate additional details of construction ofthe feeding, guiding, forming and cutting apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated herein the form of theapparatus of my invention which is particularly adapted to the rewindingof a heiically coiled member in which the member comprises a rubberinsulated electrical cord. As shown in Fig. 1 the apparatus may besupported at a convenient height above the floor or other workingsurface by means of a rack or framework I which includes a pair ofspaced rails 2 and 3 carried upon a plurality of downwardly extendinglegs 4. Upon the rails 2 and 3 may be mounted a supporting plate -5 uponwhich is adapted to rest a re-winding apparatus 6 and a supportingdevice 1 upon which may be carried a resilient member 8 which has beenwound into a helically coiled shape as indicated at 9.

In the manufacture of insulated electrical cords a relatively greatlength long cylindrical mandrel it prior to the curing or vulcanizationof the raw rubber insulation which is placed about the electricalconductors.

helically wound rubber it is proposed to wind of the cord 8 about a Itis proposed to thereupon cure or vulcanize the rubber so as to pre-formthe member 8 into the helically coiled shape 8.

The supporting structure I may accordingly include a pair of uprights llupon which is mounted bearings l2 and I! (see Figs. 3 and 4). Extendedbetwren these bearings and rotatably supported the: ein is a shortsleeve l4 having an internal bore ll extending therethrough having adiameter such as to loosely and slidably receive the long mandrel III sothat as one end l8 of the helically coiled member 8 is pulled from themandrel It the mandrel and sleeve l4 may rotate within the bearings l2and i8 while permitting the mandrel III to be progressively slid throughthe sleeve [4 to continuously dispose the feeding end of the helix 8substantially adjacent the bearings l2. This accordingly Provides forthe maintenance of the feeding end l8 of the member 8 in a substantiallyfixed location relative to the re-winding apparatus 8 which is alsocarried by the supporting plate 5.

The re-winding apparatus 8 may include a base portion l1 upon which iscarried a cylindrical housing l8 having a boss l8 formed on the upperside thereof to define a mounting space for an electric motor 28 orother suitable source of power. The electric motor 28 may be drlvablyconnected to the re-winding apparatus by means of a belt 21 encircling apulley 22 affixed to the shaft of the motor 28 and another pulley 23secured to a drive shaft 24 which extends into the cylindrical housingI! in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof.

As is shown in Fig. 2, the drive shaft 24 is journaled within thehousing I! as by means of bearings 25, a worm 28 being secured to theshaft 24 intermediately of the spaced bearings 25 and in a position todrivably engage a worm wheel 21. The worm wheel 21 is non-rotatablysecured as by means of a pin 28 to a rotating sleeve '28 which is inturn iournaled for rotation about an axis disposed parallel to the axisof the cylindrical housing l8 by means of a suitable bearing 38. Thebearing 88 may be conveniently carried in its proper position byinsertion into an elongated boss 8| formed on a housing cover member 82which may be secured to one end of the housing 18 as by means of bolts83. The bearing 30 comprises substantially the only support for thesleeve 28 and is consequently made relatively long relative to thelength of the sleeve 28 so as to effectively prevent, anytransverse'loads which are imposed upon the sleeve from causing amis-alignment between the sleeve and the bearing 80.

The sleeve 28 is preferably reduced in diameter at its outer end andthreaded as indicated at 34 to receive anut 85 which may be screwedthereon to clamp a spur gear 88 between the nut and a flange 31 formedon the outer end of the sleeve 28. The spur gear 85 is intended to drivethe feeding and winding apparatus which effects the re-winding operationon the resilient member 8. This apparatus may be carried on a bracketmember 88 which may be secured to the housing cover 82 by means of bolts38 passed through a flange portion 48 of the bracket 38 and threadedinto bosses 4| formed on the outer surface of the cover 32.

As shown in Fig. 4 the bracket 38 is bored as indicated at 42 torotatably receive a short shaft 48. Upon one end of the shaft 43 isaflixed a spur gear 44 of such size and disposed in such location as tomesh with the aforemention d guano spur gear 88 carried by the sleeve28. Upon the opposite end of the shaft 48 is mounted a feeding wheel 45which has a groove 44 formed a therein adapted to receive the resilientmember 8. The bottom of the groove may be scored or otherwise suitablyroughened as indicated at 41 to provide a substantial frictional contactbetween the ieeding wheel 45 and the resilient member 8. The resilientmember 8 may be forced into firm engagement with the bottom of thegroove 48 by means of a grooved idler wheel 48. This wheel maybe mountedfor adjustable movement toward and away from the feed wheel 45 by meansof an arm 48 which is pivotally secured as indicated at 58 to thebracket 38 and which rotatably supports upon the other end the idlerwheel 48. .An adjusting screw 5| may be employed as desired to regulatethe distance between the idler wheel 48 and the feed wheel 45.

It will be perceived that rotation of the electric motor 25 operates tolikewise rotate the drive shaft 24 through the belted connection theretoand that rotation of the drive shaft 24 will be translated into rotationof the sleeve 28 within its bearing 38. The sleeve 29 being drivablyengaged with the feeding wheel 45 through the spur gears 38 and 44 thusoperates to rotate the feeding wheel 45. The direction of rotation ofthe motor 20 is so chosen as to cause the feeding wheel 45 to rotate ina direction to feed the length of resilient material 8 toward the centerof the overhung bracket member 38.

Suitable alignment of the feeding end l8 of the resilient member 8, thefeed wheel 45 and the idler wheel 48 may be insured by the employment ofa guiding shoe 52. This shoe may, if desired, comprise a funnel-shapedmember having a bore therethrough adapted to freely pass the resilientmember 8 and is disposed in alignment with the groove 46 in the feedingwheel 45.

As the end 86 of the resilient member 8 is fed toward the center of theoverhung bracket 38 by the feeding wheel- 45 it is received in a helicalchannel 53 which is formed in the exterior of a plug member 54 receivedin an enlarged bore 55 provided in the overhung bracket 38. The bore 55is preferably disposed in axial alignment with the sleeve 29. Thechannel 53 which is formed about the exterior of the plug member 54preferably makes one full turn so as to guide the end It of theresilient member about one full helical turn in the desired direction ofre-winding. The outermost end of the plug member 54 is reduced indiameter as indicated at 55 and threaded to receive a stationary mandrel51. The mandrel 51 is provided with a diameter slightly smaller than thedesired inside diameter of the helical shape into which the resilientmember 8 is to be rewound.

I prefer to provide a means for reducing the friction between theresilient member 8 and the outer walls of the bore 55 during the timethe resilient member 8 is beingfed around the helical groove 53. Forthis purpose a plurality of rollers 58 may be employed. The rollers 58may be disposed in such locations as to define a circle having adiameter substantially equal to the desired exterior diameter of thehelical coil to be formed by re-winding the resilient member 8. Each ofthese rollers is accordingly preferably rotatably supported upon a pin59 which is threadedly engaged with the body portion of the overhungbracket 38.

It will be observed that as the length of the snares resilient materialI is fed into the re-winding apparatus by the feeding wheel It anentering end thereof is guided about the first turn of the desiredhelical shape by means of the helical groove 83 and that continuedoperation of the feeding end thereof outwardly along the stationarymandrel l1.

It has been found that improved re-winding can be achieved byemploying ameans which tends to also pull the resilient material along the helicalpath defined by the groove 53. For this P se I employ a rotating sleeve60 which is mounted concentrically with the mandrel 81 and supported forrotation by means of pin bearings II carried in a carrier 62 which mayin turn be secured to the outermost end of the bracket 38 as by means ofthrough a flange portion 64 formed on the carrier 82. Rotation may beimparted to the sleeve it by forming gear teeth BI end thereof in aposition to be drivably engaged with a spur gear 66 carried on theoutermost end of the counter-shaft II.

The sleeve is provided with a here which the rewound coil of resilientmaterial is passed. This bore may, if desired, be tapered so as to havethat end which is located nearest the guiding slightly larger than thedimeter of the opposite end thereof. The gear the gear 68 and the gearformed ripheral speed of higher than the peripheral speed of theresilient material as it is fed along the mandrel 51.

Should the coils of the rewound material tend to expand sufllciently tobring the outermost surfaces thereof into contact with the walls of thesleeve 60, the frictional engagement between these through through theguiding channel but also to reduce the diameter of the coils to a pointwhere they no longer engage the interior walls of the sleeve til. Ontheother hand, the pushing oi the material into the guide channel 53 by thefeeding wheel 45 tends to increase the diameters of the coils to preventtheir dragging against the exterior of the stationary mandrel 51. Itwill be seen that these two tendencies are automatically balanced insuch manner as to provide for free and ready discharge of the helicalcoil from the machine as it is formed by the machine.

It is intended that the length of resilient material 8 which is includedin each of the preformed helical coils 9 which are to be rewound by thepreviously described re-winding apparatus be as long as can beconveniently handled during the pre-forming operation. This length will,in most cases, be much greater than the desired length of material to beincluded in each of the rewound helical extension members and I,therefore, prefer to include in my apparatus a cutting device forcutting the resilient member 8 into such lengths as may be desired. Thiscutting operation may be readily performed by means of a 3 cutting knife87 which is secured in one end of a slidable rod 68 as by means of ascrew 8! threaded into the end of the receive the cutting blade II. Theblade" may be secured in the slot formed in the screw 6! as by means ofa pin 10. The slldable rod I is mounted for axial slidable movement byproviding a bore II which may constitute anextension of the bore inwhich the mandrel i1 is threadedly received.

The plug member 84 is slotted as indicated at which defines a path ofmovement for the blade I! extending completely across one portion of thechannel II so that movement of the blade I to the position illustratedin Fig. 2 blade to pass completely across that portion of the channel IIand sever the resilient member at that point.

The slidable rod II is supported for axial slidmeans of theaforementioned able movement by H and also by means of a coaxial bore IIsecuring the cup leather body Ti is preferably provided with atail-piece which passes through a bore ll formed in a cylinder headportion Ila of the cylinder block '15 and serves as a guide for guidingthe movement of the piston and the rod to which it is attached. Thetail-piece 80 may be threaded as indicated at 82 and a nut and washerarrangement 8384 may be employed to clamp the cup leather 19 against theinward face of the piston body 11.

with the resilient member I may be caused by admitting a pneumatic fluidunder pressure (for example, compressed air) into the space between thepiston 1i and the cylinder head Ila. I accordingly provide an airpassage II which communicates between the cylinder It and a controlvalve indicated generally at ll. The control valve may include an airsupply port which extends into communication'with a valve chamber 9!,the valve chamber 8i and the supply port 90 being formed in a valve 92.The air passage 88 is also extended into co the left from vbe controlledby means of whichisadaptedtobepressed tionship with the endof the ber 03and carries which one end of the spring 04 may bear, the other end ofthe spring plished by V disposed shaft munication with thecompressedairslmpiiedthroughthesunn ynilmaybeconductcdthroughthepassageltto eflect the desired slidingmovement of the piston 16. n

of the air into the passage 08 ma a valve member 9;

into scaling relasupply passage 00 by means of a compression spring 04disposed in encircling relationship with a valve stem 05. The valve stem00 is secured to the valve mema flange portion 90 against 04 bearingagainst a bored plug member 01 threadedly engaged with a bore 00 formedin a boss 00 and adapted to receive the spring ll.

It will be seen that should the valve stem 95 be retracted against therestoring force of the spring 0| so as to place the supply passage 90into communication with the air passage 00, the flow ofpneumatic fluidunder pressure into the space between the piston I0 and cylinder head hewould operate to move the piston to the left as viewed in Fig. 2 andeffect a cutting operation of the resilient member 0. This retraction ofthe valve member it may be accomcoupling a solenoid" I00 to theprotruding end of the valve stem 05.

Actuation of the solenoid at the properly timed intervals to cut theresilient member 0 into the desired lengths may be accomplished byinterposing in the electrical circuit for the solenoid I00 a controlswitch IOI which is adapted to be closed at intervals the length ofwhich are in turn controlled by the amount of resilient member I whichhas been fed past the cutting member 01.

Such a'control of the switch III may be delived by means of a switchactuating mechanism which includes a counter-shaft I02 extendingtransversely into the main housing Ill. The counter-shaft I02 isJournaled for rotation within a boss portion I03 .of the housing I0 andcarries on its inward end a bevel gear I04 drivably engaged with asimilar bevel gear I00 which may be secured to the aforementioned wormwheel 21 by means of the pin 20. The exterior end of the counter-shaftI02 is provided with a worm I06 adapted to drive a enacting worm wheelI01.

Theworm wheel I01 is secured to a vertically I00 which is iournaled forrotation in a bearing bracket I00 carried by the boss I00. Upon theupper end of the shaft I00 is afflxed a thrust collar I I0 adapted toprevent downward movement of the shaft I00 through its bearing I00. Thethrust collar IIO may be secured to the shaft III as by means of a pinIII which may also serve as a switch actuating means having an outer endIII thereof disposed in a position to momentarily close the switch IOIonce each revolution of the shaft I00 by engaging a switch trig er III.

It will be observed that the amount of resilient material 0 which is fedpast the cutter 61 for each revolution of the switch actuating means Iiiis dependent upon the gear ratios embodied in the bevel gears Ill-I00and the worm drive I00-401. According y. the amount of material to beincluded in each cut length can be readily controlled by adjusting thegear ratio of the worm drive I00-I01 and for.this purpose I preferto'mount the switch iflllupon an extension Ill of the bearing bracketI00 and in turn slidvalve chamber 0| so that ably secure the extensionIll to the boss I02 so that the spacing between the shaft I00 and theshaft I02 may be altered at will to accommodate different sizes of wormwheels I01.

It will be" observed that whenever suflicient material has been rewoundinto the desired helical shape to cause the switch actuating device IIIto operate the control switch i0I to complete the circuit to thesolenoid I00, air under pressure will be admitted to the cylinder It andcause the cutter 61 to be rapidly moved across the path of the resilientmaterial 8 and sever this material.

' The piston 10 and the cutter shaft 00 secured thereto may be retractedfrom this position by means of a compression spring H5 which is disposedln encircling relationship with the cutter shaft 60 and adapted toextend between the sleeve 29 and the piston I6. I accordingly provide anextension IIS on the sleeve 20, this extension having a smaller exteriordiameter at this point so as to provide a shoulder II'I against whichone end of the compression, spring IIi may bear. Since the compressionspring H5 is, in this fashion, caused to rotate with the sleeve 20 whilethe piston I8 is non-rotatably received within the cylinder II, I preferto interpose a thrust hearing IIO between the other end of thecompression spring II! and the piston body 11.

It will be observed that as soon, as the circuit to the solenoid I00 isbroken, the valve member illwill be again moved into sealingrelationship with the air supply passage 00 by means of the compressionspring 04, thus permitting the main compression spring 5 to force thepiston I6 and the cutter Bl carried thereby in a returning direction totheir retracted position, the reaction force of the spring I I5 tendingto move the sleeve 20 to the'leit being absorbed in a thrust bearing II9 which islnterposed between the worm wheel 21 and the inward end ofthe bearing boss 0|. The movement of the piston I0 toward the retractedposition may be arrested by means of a stop member I20 carried by thewasher 04 in a position to engage the inner wall of the cylinder head8Ia at the time the piston is moved to its retracted position.

The air which is displaced by this returning movement of the piston maybe discharged through an exhaust III which is also extended intocommunication with the valve chamber 0i. In order, however, to preventthe pneumatic fluid under pressure from passing from the supply passage90 directly to the exhaust I2I during the time the valve stem 05 isretracted by the solenoid I00, I arrange the valve chamber 0i and thevalve member 83 in such fashion that when the valve stem is retractedthe valve member 82 will be moved into sealing engagement with acommunicating passage I22 extended between the exhaust I2l and the valvechamber 0| so as to close off the connection between the valve chamber0| and the exhaust I2I.

I prefer to so construct the valve 00 as to cause the piston 16 to bemoved in the cutting direction extremely rapidly and I also prefer toarrange the spring H5 in such fashion that the returning movement of thepiston and the cutter may be made with equal rapidity. The controlswitch III is also preferably arranged so that the circuit to thesolenoid I00 is closed for a sufllcient length of time to cause thecutter 01 to completely sever the resilient member 0 and then toimmediately open this circuit. By arranging the cutting mechanism inthis fashion so that it may be extremely fast in its action, there willbe no perceptible interruption in the ieeding of the resilient materialI since the cutter merely darts across the path of the material and backagain with such rapidity that there is caused substantially no slippagebetween the feeding wheel .5 and the resilient material 8.

From the foregoing it will be observed that I have provided a windingapparatus which is particularly adapted for the rewinding of a longlength of resilient material which has been preformed into the shape ofan elongated helical coil and that this apparatus is adapted to re-windthis resilient member in such direction that the pitch of theresultinghelical coil is opposite to the pitch of the coil originally formed bythe member. It will be apparent that this reversal is accomplished inthe form of the apparatus described by rotating the original and rewoundhelix in the same direction while reversing the direction of propagationof the helix. 'It will be apparent, of course, that the same resultscould be achieved by reversing the direction of rotation of the twohelices while maintaining the direction of propagation of the same.

It will be further observed that the device of my invention is adaptedto automatically cut a relatively long length of resilient material intoany number of desired short lengths during the rewinding operationwithout perceptibly interrupting this re-winding operation.

It will be further observed that the form of the machine which I havejust described is characterized by the provision of a unique feedingdevice which is adapted to be responsive to the diameter of the helixformed by the re-winding operation and which functions to simultaneouslypush and pull the material through the helix forming portion of themachine to thus prevent any jamming of the material in the machine.

While I have described my invention as being embodied in an apparatusparticularly adapted for the re-winding of a helical member comprising arubber insulated electrical conductor, it is to be understood that thisdevice may be employed for the manufacture of extension devicescomprising a helically coiled resilient member in which the pitch of thecoils of the helix are reversed after forming irrespective of the natureof the resilient member employed.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, I do not desire to be limited to any of the details ofconstruction shown or described herein, except as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for making extension devices from a resilient memberwhich has been pre-formed into an elongated helical coil, thecombination of: means for supporting said preformed coil for rotationabout its longitudinal axis; and means engageable with one end of saidcoil for moving said end through a helical path having a pitch oppositeto the pitch of said preformed coil.

2. In an apparatus for making extension devices from a resilient memberwhich has been pre-formed into an elongated helical coil, thecombination of means for supporting said preformed coil for rotationabout its longitudinal axis; a means defining a helical path having apitch opposite to the pitch of said pre-formed coil: and meansengageable with said resilient member for feeding said member from saidpreiormed coil and about said helical path.

3. In an apparatus for making extension devices from a resilient memberwhich has been preformed into an elongated helical coil, the combinationof means 101' supporting said preformed coil for rotation about itslongitudinal axis; a means defining a helical path having a pitchopposite to the pitch of said pre-formed coil; means engageable withsaid resilient member for feeding said member from said preformed coiland about said helical path; and means for confining said member in saidpath.

4. In an apparatus for making extension devices from a resilient memberwhich has been pre-formed into an elongated helical coil, thecombination of: means for supporting said preformed coil for rotationabout its longitudinal axis; means defining a. helical path having apitch opposite to the pitch of said pre-formed coil; means for feedingsaid resilient member from one end of said pre-iormed coil and aboutsaid helical path; and means for feeding said pre-formed coil in thedirection of its longitudinal axis to continuously dispose said end inalignment with said helical path as said resilient material is unwoundfrom said pre-formed coil.

5. In an apparatus for making extension devices from a resilient memberwhich has been pre-formed into an elongated helical coil, thecombination of: means for supporting said preformed coil for rotationabout its longitudinal axis; means defining a helical path for saidresilient member having a pitch opposite to the pitch of said pre-formedcoil; a feeding means disposed between said path and said coil andengageable with said resilient member to push said resilient memberabout said helical path to rewind said member into a helical coil;rotatable sleeve means disposed in a position to receivesgid rewoundhelical coil as it is discharged fromeaid path; and means for rotatingsaid sleeve member in the direction of rotation of said rewound coil andat a speed higher than the peripheral speed of said rewound coil.

6. In an apparatus for making extension devices from a resilient memberwhich has been preformed into an elongated helical coil, the combinationof means for supporting said preformed coil for rotation about itslongitudinal axis; a means defining a helical path having a pitchopposite to the pitch of said pre-formed coil; means engageable withsaid resilient memher for feeding said member from said pre-formed coiland about said helical path; andcutter means mounted for reciprocalmovement across said path to out said member.

7. In a winding apparatus for winding an elongated member into aplurality of elongated helical coils, the combination of means forsupporting a supply of said member; means engageable with said memberfor feeding said member from said supply and winding said member into ahelical coil; cutter means mounted for reciprocal movement across thepath of movement of said member to cut said member; and actuating meansfor said cutter means responsive to feeding of predetermined amounts ofsaid member to reciprocate said cutter and out said member intopredetermined lengths.

8. In an apparatus for making extension devices from a resilient memberwhich has been pre-formed into an elongated helical coil, thecombination of: means for supporting said preformed coil; meansengageable with said resilient member for feeding said member from saidpreformed coil and winding said member into a helical coil having apitch opposite to the pitch of said pre-formed coil; and means forcutting said member into predetermined lengths as it is fed from saidpre-formed coil including a cutter mounted for reciprocal movementacross the path of movement of said member, actuating. means for somoving said cutter, and means responsive to the feeding of predeterminedamounts of said member for controlling said actuating means.

9. In a rewinding device, the combination of; means for feeding anelongated member from a source of supply and about a helical path; acutter mounted for reciprocal movement across the path of movement ofsaid member; a cylinder; a piston connected to said cutter and movablein said cylinder for reciprocating said cutter; a source of pneumaticfluid under pressure; valve means for controlling admission of saidpneumatic fluid to said cylinder; and control means for controlling theoperation of said valve means including a means responsive to thefeeding of a predetermined amount of said member past said cutter.

10. In an apparatus for making extension devices from a resilient memberwhich has been pre-i'ormed into an elongated helical coil, thecombination of: means for supporting said preformed member for rotarymovement in a specifled direction about its longitudinal axis; means forfeeding said member from one end of said pre-formed coil; means mountingsaid preformed coil for axial movement in one direction as said memberis fed therefrom; means for guiding said member about a helical path toform a rewound helical coil rotating in said predetermined direction;and means for feeding said rewound coil axially in a direction oppositeto the direction of axial movement of said pre-formed gall, whereby saidmember is rewound into a h fieifi-coil having a pitch opposite to thepitch of said pre-formed coil.

11. In a winding apparatus for winding an elongated member into aplurality of elongated helical coils, the combination of means forsupporting a supply of said member; means engageable with said memberfor continuously feeding said member from said supply and winding saidmember into a helical coil; cutter means mounted for reciprocal movementacross the path of movement of said member to out said member; controlmeans actuatable in response to feeding of predetermined amounts of saidmember past said cutter; and cutter drive means responsive to actuation1 said control means for reciprocating said cutter with such rapidity asto cut said member without perceptibly interrupting said feedingthereof.

12. In a winding apparatus for winding an elongated member into anelongated helical coil, the combination of: means for supporting asupply of said member; feeding means for feeding said member from saidsupply in the direction of its length; a cylindrical housing memberhaving an opening therein for receiving said member as it is fed fromsaid feeding means; a plug member supported coaxially within saidhousing member; means on said plug member defining a helical groovethereabout having a cross section substantiall identical with the crosssection of said elongated member; and anti-friction means carried bysaid housing member and overlying said helical groove for confining saidmember in said groove as it is fed tberethrough by said feeding means.

13. In a winding apparatus for winding an elongated member into anelongated helical coil, the combination of 2 means for supporting asimply of said member; feeding means for feeding said member from saidsupply in the direction of its length; a cylindrical housing memberhaving an opening therein for receiving said member as it is fed fromsaid feeding means; a plug member supported coaxially within saidhousing member; means on said plug member defining a helical groovethereabout having a cross section substantially identical with the crosssection of said elongated member and anti-friction means comprising aplurality of rollers disposed with their axes parallel to the axis ofsaid helical groove and carried by said housing member in a positionextending across said groove to confine said member within said grooveas it is fed therethrough by said feeding means.

14. In a winding apparatus for winding an elongated member into anelongated helical coil, the combination of: means for supporting asupply of said member; fedding means for feeding said member from saidsupply in the direction of its length; a cylindrical housing memberhaving an opening therein for receiving said member as it is fed fromsaid feeding means; a plug member supported coaxially within saidhousing member; means on said plug member defining a hellcal groovethereabout having a cross section substantially identical with the crosssection of said elongated member; anti-friction means carried by saidhousing member and overlying said helical groove for confining saidmember in said groove as it is fed therethrough by said feeding means;and a stationary mandrel secured to said plug member and mountedcoaxially therewith for receiving said helical coil as it is fed fromsaid helical groove.

15. In a winding apparatus for winding an elongated member into anelongated helical coil, the combination of: means for supporting asupply of said member; feeding means for feeding said member from saidsupply in the direction of its length; a cylindrical housing memberhaving an opening therein for receiving said member as it is fed fromsaid feedingmeans; a plug member supported coaxiall within said housingmember; means on said plug member defining a helical groove thereabouthaving a cross section substantially identical with the cross section o!said elongated member; anti-friction means carried by said housingmember and overlying said helical groove for confining said member insaid groove as it is fed therethrough by said feedingmeans; a stationarymandrel secured to said plug member and mounted coaxiaily therewith forreceiving said helical coil as it is fed from said helical groove; arotatable sleeve surrounding said mandrel and having an internaldiameter substantially equal to the desired external diameter of saidhelical coil; and meansfor rotating said sleeve member in the samedirection as said member is fed from said helical groove and at aperipheral speed greater than the speed of said feeding, wherebyengagement between said rotatable sleeve and said helical coil operatesto reduce the outside diameter of said coil and prevent jamming of saidmember within said groove.

RAY o. wnson.

